The Cry

Publisher's Summary

He's gone. And telling the truth won't bring him back... When a baby goes missing on a lonely roadside in Australia, it sets off a police investigation that will become a media sensation and dinner-table talk across the world. Lies, rumours and guilt snowball, causing the parents, Joanna and Alistair, to slowly turn against each other. Finally Joanna starts thinking the unthinkable: Could the truth be even more terrible than she suspected? And what will it take to make things right?The Cry is a dark psychological thriller with a gripping moral dilemma at its heart and characters who will keep you guessing on every page.

What the Critics Say

"Astonishingly good. It is utterly harrowing, completely plausible, constantly nerve-shredding ... It plays on the deepest, darkest fears of all parents about their children, and embeds that everyday terror in a plot so up-to-the-minute that you'll swear it's been lifted from the pages of a newspaper ... The Cry is a remarkable novel - its devastating power all the stronger for its realistic rendering. Brilliant stuff." (Doug Johnstone, Independent on Sunday)"A book you find yourself greedily gulping down." (Herald)"The harrowing plot keeps you gripped until the final, devastating revelation." (Sunday Mirror)"The Cry really is extraordinary. In a just universe, it will be [Helen FitzGerald's] Gone Girl moment. Read it at once." (Steve Mosby)"Fitzgerald's punchy thriller fleshes out new circles of parental hell" (Independent)"Brilliant... 300 pages of taut, sharp, chilling and often laugh out loud funny genius." (Lisa Jewell)"The way their world unravels is compelling and terrifyingly real. FitzGerald is a hugely underrated writer, but the initial success of The Cry looks set to put an end to that." (Big Issue Books of the Year)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful

Not a dark thriller on any level -disappointing

What was most disappointing about Helen Fitzgerald’s story?

This really never got going and the plot line was weak to say the least - I found the 'tweets' irritating and felt like abandoning it if I heard ' bobbly pops @bobbly pops' one more time. I listened on hoping there would be more of a twist - sadly not.

What about Lucy Paterson’s performance did you like?

On the upside it was well performed but that is unfortunately the only positive thing I can say.

What character would you cut from The Cry?

The tweetsThe old lady - can't even remember her name to be honest this just wasn't for me - it was sold as a dark psychological thriller that would leave you wanting more and I just could nt wait for it to end a poor plot.

Any additional comments?

I rarely leave reviews but felt I had to in this case as when it ended I thought oh? Is that it?? But to be honest I was surprised I d persevered. It may appeal to some but not to me sadly

Yes, but I've felt unable to recommend to parents of babies, due to the subject matter. The story is told so realistically, and with such empathy for the mother that I think it could prove upsetting.

What did you like best about this story?

The emotions, doubts, fears and horror were described in such a way that I actually felt doubtful, fearful and horrified. It's many years since I had a small baby, but I could identify with the emotions described.

Any additional comments?

A compelling read, beautifully read. The ending was skilfully handled - no "convenient" tying up of loose ends, no magic happy resolution but a mixture of hope and sadness.